Strengthening farmers’ organisations
Global programme on Strengthening Farmers’ Organisations for Sustainable Agricultural Development.
Context
The most effective way for farmers to get their concerns heard is to organise themselves into agricultural associations. These associations can establish and maintain contact with the food industry, politics and civil society while providing their members with information and practical knowledge. Farmers’ organisations are a driving force in rural development. That is why support for them and their members is so crucial.
Objective
Farmers’ organisations play a greater role in sustainable rural development, taking into account the concerns of smallholder farmers, women and young people.
Approach
Together with its partner organisations, the programme supports farmers’ organisations in building effective structures. To this end, it carries out organisational development and creates local education structures for trainers. This enables the associations to organise themselves independently and sustainably. In addition, the programme supports the associations in improving the services and qualifications offered to farmers. In commercial training courses, participants learn how to draw up business plans, market their products better and achieve higher incomes.
The programme advises farmers’ organisations on lobbying and advocacy work so that they can represent their interests to politics and economic stakeholders in a professional manner. Together with its partner organisations, the programme invites farmers’ associations from Africa and Asia to international conferences such as the World Climate Conference (COP).
The programme also improves women’s and young people’s access to leadership positions within farmers’ organisations.
It works together with both umbrella associations and regional and local partner organisations. Important partners in the programme’s implementation include the Andreas Hermes Academy (AHA), the Deutscher-LandFrauenverband e.V. (dlv), BBV-Landfrauen Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (BBV-LIZ), AgriCord, the Pan-African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO) and the Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers' Organisations (INOFO).
Last update: September 2023
Additional information
- Green Innovation Centres for the agriculture and food sector - giz.de
- Promoting employment for young people in rural areas - giz.de
- Supporting sustainable agricultural systems and agriculture worldwide - giz.de
- Improving access to agricultural finance in rural areas - giz.de
- Interview with partner Shamika Mone, Chair of the Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers' Organisations (INOFO): Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) and International Green Week - Sector Network Natural Resources and Rural Development Asia (
- Interview with partner Kolyang Palebele, President of the Pan African Farmers Organisation (PAFO): Farmers' organisations want to be involved in designing agricultural policy - Food4Transformation (foodfortransformation.org)
- FO4FS | agricord
- Homepage - Andreas Hermes Academy (andreas-herme-akademie.de)
Special initiative Transformation of agricultural and food systems
Supporting agroecological transformation processes in India - giz.de
Overview page Global